“Attacks on the UOC are addressed to all Orthodox Churches of the world” - hierarch of the Jerusalem Patriarchate

The hierarch of the Jerusalem Patriarchate, Archbishop Theodosius of Sevastopol, called on the Local Orthodox Churches to form a common position on the persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The hierarch believes that the persecution of the Church, which is taking place in Ukraine and which, in particular, recently affected the Cherkasy Diocese of the UOC, where the Cathedral was seized, is gaining momentum and becoming more violent. He called for everything necessary to stop the persecution of the UOC. This is reported by the UOC DECR Communication Service.

“The persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church by the Ukrainian authorities has not yet ceased, but is only intensifying every day, accompanied by cruelty, aggression and barbaric actions. The Ukrainian authorities continue to brutally persecute the oldest Church founded in Ukraine with the advent of Christianity there. Again and again, we would like to express our full solidarity and deep support for the one and only canonical Orthodox Church of Ukraine, led by Metropolitan Onufriy, and strongly condemn the acts against it by the Kyiv authorities, acting in cooperation with the newly created organization falsely and unjustifiably called the “Orthodox Church of Ukraine.” We lift our prayers to the Lord to protect and support the martyr Church, which testifies to the truth in Ukraine, to strengthen its Primate, metropolitans and all the priesthood, and to preserve the Ukrainian people and all the churches in these lands devastated by the war, for the cessation of which we pray so fervently,” reads the statement of Archbishop Theodosius of Sevastopol.

The archpastor once again called on the Local Churches, the UN and human rights and international organizations “to take responsibility and pay more attention to the persecution suffered by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, showing respect for the ancient presence and history of this Church.”

“How long will the persecution of this sister Church continue? Theattacks on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church are addressed to all Orthodox Churches of the world, and all of them must make joint efforts to stop the aggressive actions and persecution of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church,” Archbishop Theodosius calls.

Metropolitan Abraham Mar Stephanos of the Diocese of Great Britain, Europe and Africa (Malankara Orthodox Syriac Church) spoke out in connection with the raider seizure of the Archangel Michael Cathedral of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Cherkasy. The hierarch considers such incidents to be a violation of the dignity of the Church and believers.